Where to find your free N95 masks in the Coachella Valley

The latest effort from the White House to fight COVID-19 is providing free N95 masks. Health experts say the masks offer the most protection.

The federal government has shipped out millions of free N95 masks to the public.

The Biden administration announced two weeks ago that 400 million N95 masks would be distributed. Officials said the masks would be made available at different local pharmacies and community health centers.

Three free masks will be made available to each person. The N95 masks are from the Strategic National Stockpile.

The Biden administration said the program would be "fully up and running by early February."

The CDC says you can only wear the N95 mask up to 5 times.

Participating stores and pharmacies:

• CVS
• Walgreens
• Rite Aid
• Kroger stores

Community health centers are expected to distribute masks as well but on a smaller scale.

News Channel 3's Marian Bouchot called several different local pharmacies asking about their N95 mask shipment. The only pharmacy she could find that had them available is the Rite Aid off of Monroe Street in Indio. The store had a table near the entrance with stacks of the N95 masks and a sign that said limit three per person.

Valley resident Kathy Hobstetter made sure to get her three masks before they ran out.

"Those are impossible and the best to find. So I saw them and I was so excited," said Hobstetter. "I think the fact that they're reaching out and trying to help us get these masks that are so important, is vital to health and COVID and everything else."

CVS said, "Inventory has begun arriving at these stores and pharmacies and will continue on a rolling basis as additional supply becomes available."

Walgreens said, "The first N95 mask shipments have begun arriving in Walgreens warehouses and we are shipping them to participating stores as soon as possible. While some stores have received them already, this remains a rolling launch over the coming days and weeks. "

Rite Aid said it expects all stores to have them sometime this week.

If you want your free N95 masks, your best bet is to call your local pharmacy and check if they're in stock.

Riverside University Health System said they are expecting N95 mask shipments as well but don't know when they will arrive. They are also still discussing which health centers will receive them.